Survey 1: Issues/Problems of Commuters and Jeepney drivers going back and forth to Sta. Maria and Malolos, Bulacan.

 SURVEY 1                                                                   Community and Citizen Journalism

ISSUES / PROBLEMS OF COMMUTERS AND JEEPNEY DRIVERS GOING BACK AND FORTH TO STA. MARIA AND MALOLOS, BULACAN.

1. Introduction

The survey serves a purpose of knowing the reason for the struggles of commuters through asking their experiences in Sta. Maria - Malolos jeepney services. It is a known fact that whenever it was during the rush hour, commuters pile up into a long line in the terminal because of the "lack of jeepneys" during the time period. However, the interview is not specified only for commuter experiences but also the point of view of drivers in the matter.

During the time period of conducting the interview, the researchers gather 10 respondents. Wherein, 5 drivers were interviewed as well as 5 commuters to give equal idea of commuter and driver's point of view.

The interview was conducted between February 12 - 13, 2024. Below are the questions formulated in relation to the inquiry of the problem. 

The answers of different sets of respondents were divided with different ideas, contradicting and coming from different perspectives. It aims that it points the fault to one another but also to one particular set of individuals, the authorities behind the true reason. This survey aims to be able to point out who should be surveyed for the next survey (Survey 2).

2. Questionnaire

The questions that formulated are;

1. Name, sex , age and occupation

2. Gaano katagal ka nang nagcocommute sa Sta. Maria/Malolos? Gaano ka nang katagal na driver ng  Sta. Maria/Malolos?

3. Gaano kahirap o kahassle sumakay? Ano-ano ang hirap at hassle maging driver?

4. Para sa iyo, ano ang mga bagay na nagpapalala sa mga ito?

5. Ano ang epekto nito sa pang araw-araw mong pamumuhay?

6. Ano ang iyong mga suhestiyon upang masolusyunan ang mga problemang ito?

 III.      Responses

RESPONDENTS	SEX	AGE	OCCUPATION	HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A COMMUTER/ DRIVER?	COMPLAINT/S	CAUSE/S OF THE PROBLEM (acc. to the respondents)
COMMUTERS
Precious Cassandra Rapania	F	18	1st year BS Tourism Management (BSU student)	more than 1 year	-Lack of jeepney and long line up of commuters at the terminal. -Lack of rest because of the long wait for the jeepney.	- Heavy traffic along Malolos and Bocaue.
Respondent refused to disclose his name.	M	18	1st year BSIT (BSU student)	more than 1 year	-Limited number of jeeps. - “nakauwi at namamahinga na dapat pero mahaba ang pila dahil walang jeep.”	- Mandated jeepney phaseout
Respondent refused to disclose his name.	F	30	Teacher in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. (Live in Malolos)	since her college days up until to present	-Jeepneys are crowded.  -“punuan at siksikan.” - “mas grabe ang pila ‘pag rush hour.”	-Heavy traffic in Malolos
Maricar Ocampo	F	20	-3rd year BSU College student	since her 1st year	-“Dating 45 mins na byahe (from Sta.maria to Malolos) nagiging mahigit 1 hr na.”	-Heavy traffic -Newly operating stop lights along Malolos Road.
Respondent refused to disclose his name.	M	38	-Nurse	over 2 years	- “Parang mas bumigat yung byahe kesa” dati.”	-Heavy traffic -Jeepney Phaseout
JEEPNEY DRIVERS
Rico Mariano	M	49	Jeepney driver	28 years	- “mas lumalang traffic.”	-Newly operating stop lights along Malolos Road.
Respondent refused to disclose his name.	M	57	Jeepney driver	10 years	-“mas matagal na biyahe at pagbalik sa terminal.“	-Heavy traffic -Newly operating stop lights along Malolos Road.
Atong Zuniega	M	45	Jeepney driver	20 years	-“Nabawasan ang mga sumasakay.” - “hindi makabalik agad dahil sa traffic sa Malolos.”	-Newly operating stop lights along Malolos Road. - “alisin na yung stop light sa Malolos…yun ang nagp-patraffic talaga…dati naman kasi ok nung wala yun”
Carlo Dagohoy	M	41	Jeepney driver	7 years	-“Tumagal lalo yung byahe.” -“Kailangan kasi sumunod sa stolight…kundi mat-ticketan ka.”	-Newly operating stop lights along Malolos Road.
“Mario”	M	50	Jeepney driver	16 years	-“Pampatagl lang yung sto light kasi kakahinto mo lang sa Dakila hihinto ulit sa San Pablo.”	-Newly operating stop lights along Malolos Road.

Table 1. The table shows the respondents’ answers.

IV. Summary

Summary of answers we got from the respondents;

• Commuters’ Opinion

• The commuters' insights were that the lack of jeepney was caused by the mandated jeepney phase out; they also think it is caused by a heavy flow of traffic among the routes. 

• Drivers’ Opinion

• We were expecting the same insights from the drivers but it turns out that it is a quite different reason. They stated that there are enough jeepneys that are on rotation in the Sta. Maria - Malolos Terminal and it actually has nothing to do with the jeepney phase out as the drivers also said that they have no idea if it is going to be executed anytime soon. In fact, the problem is rooted from mismanagement of traffic rules specifically in Malolos traffic light management. They said that it caused more and heavier  traffic because the time in those traffic lights was not operating in sequence. 

V. Documentation

Table 2. Some of the photos taken during the survey interview. (Note: Taking photos was permitted by the respondents.)

Conducted by:

Dionisio, Yance Lysha M.

Llanos, Thana Alliah Mae R. 

Nato,  Melaiza O.